Attorney General Under Fire

Nevada Attorney General George Chanosis under fire for making just seven trips to his Carson City officesince starting the job Nov. 1. With cell phones, e-mail and fax machines, Chanos said he canaccomplish his official duties in his hometown of Las Vegas. When pressed for a record of his visits to Carson City, Chanossaid: "I'm not keeping score, and I don't think anyone else shouldeither. This is a petty and immature issue." But his office provided details of his Carson City trips to theReno Gazette-Journal the next day. The state pays his travel costs. Former Gov. Bob Miller criticized Chanos' lack of time in thecapital city. The Las Vegas native spent most of the time in CarsonCity during his tenure as lieutenant governor and governor. "That's the state capital. That's where state government is,"said Miller, a Democrat. "There's a reasonable expectation thatelected officers be there." Chanos, a Republican, was named by Gov. Kenny Guinn to finishthe term of Brian Sandoval, who was appointed to the federal bench. Since Nov. 1, Chanos has averaged about one trip every otherweek to his Carson City office. He has spent less than 60 hoursthere, and his longest visit was an overnighter in December. With more than 70 percent of the state's population in ClarkCounty, the attorney general's office has 65 lawyers in Carson Cityand 65 lawyers in Las Vegas. Chanos said family considerations also are keeping him in LasVegas most of the time. He said his 8-year-old daughter goes to the same school hermother attended. And both he and his wife have elderly parents inLas Vegas who need care. "Those considerations eclipse any others," he said. "Ifchoosing between my 8-year-old daughter saying she would like tosee more of me and certain political types in northern Nevada whowould like to see more of me, I'm going to listen to my daughter." State law requires the attorney general's office to be in thecapital. But no law requires the official to live in the capital. If elected to a full term in November, Chanos plans to stay inCarson City full-time when the 2007 Legislature is in session. ---Nevada Attorney General George Chanosis under fire for making just seven trips to his Carson City officesince starting the job Nov. 1. With cell phones, e-mail and fax machines, Chanos said he canaccomplish his official duties in his hometown of Las Vegas. When pressed for a record of his visits to Carson City, Chanossaid: "I'm not keeping score, and I don't think anyone else shouldeither. This is a petty and immature issue." But his office provided details of his Carson City trips to theReno Gazette-Journal the next day. The state pays his travel costs. Former Gov. Bob Miller criticized Chanos' lack of time in thecapital city. The Las Vegas native spent most of the time in CarsonCity during his tenure as lieutenant governor and governor. "That's the state capital. That's where state government is,"said Miller, a Democrat. "There's a reasonable expectation thatelected officers be there." Chanos, a Republican, was named by Gov. Kenny Guinn to finishthe term of Brian Sandoval, who was appointed to the federal bench. Since Nov. 1, Chanos has averaged about one trip every otherweek to his Carson City office. He has spent less than 60 hoursthere, and his longest visit was an overnighter in December. With more than 70 percent of the state's population in ClarkCounty, the attorney general's office has 65 lawyers in Carson Cityand 65 lawyers in Las Vegas. Chanos said family considerations also are keeping him in LasVegas most of the time. He said his 8-year-old daughter goes to the same school hermother attended. And both he and his wife have elderly parents inLas Vegas who need care. "Those considerations eclipse any others," he said. "Ifchoosing between my 8-year-old daughter saying she would like tosee more of me and certain political types in northern Nevada whowould like to see more of me, I'm going to listen to my daughter." State law requires the attorney general's office to be in thecapital. But no law requires the official to live in the capital. If elected to a full term in November, Chanos plans to stay inCarson City full-time when the 2007 Legislature is in session. ---

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